After the debate team competition, you'd be hard pressed to find Nelson without Murdock. The two friends would use whatever free time they had after school to spend together. Foggy started following Matt to Fogwell's and Matt even convinced Foggy to try out some of the bags. Matt would meet up with Foggy at Nelson's Meats to do their homework together. On weekends, the boys would be out from breakfast to dinner and any given night during the week one home or the other would end up with another teenage boy to feed.
For anyone who didn't know better you would think Matt and Foggy had been friends since they were in diapers rather than only a few months. They shared their high school graduation dinner together thanks to the Nelson family and when the time came to bring them both to Columbia, Ed Nelson volunteered for the task while Maggie and Anna tried to not cry as Matt and Foggy drove off.
The end of October brought the end of midterms and the hell associated with them. After two weeks of hard studying and long sleepless nights, Foggy was looking to cut loose a bit and that meant quality time with his girlfriend, Marci. Matt was exhausted from long hours of studying and everything was becoming overwhelming for him. After Foggy left the dorm, Matt tried to relax with some music but even his most soothing stuff wasn't working. All the extra noise from everyone unloading after midterms was irritating the shit out of him and giving him the beginnings of a migraine. Matt groaned, turned his music off and buried his head under his pillow to try to sleep it off.
Foggy came back to the dorm Saturday evening after girlfriend quality time got cut short by unexpected early return of girlfriend's roommate. Given the time, Foggy figured that Matt would just be finishing dinner or chilling with his books or his music. He definitely was not expecting the passed out lump in Matt's bed with only his arm sticking out from the blanket at only seven o'clock. Foggy turned on the light and tossed his bag on his bed. Matt didn't even move which now had Foggy worried. He usually tried not to wake Matt up when he was sleeping but this was concerning. Foggy moved the pillow off of his head and set it against the headboard. "Hey buddy. You feeling okay?" Foggy asked gently as he placed a hand on Matt's shoulder.
Matt slowly came around, groaning as he lifted his face from where it had been squished against his mattress. "Hey Foggy. You're back early. How's Marci?"
Foggy crouched down next to Matt's head to feel his forehead for a fever. "Early? I haven't been here for twenty-four hours. It's Saturday night."
Matt heard what Foggy said and it took a few moments for his brain to catch up. "What do you mean it's Saturday?" Matt asked as he twisted off his stomach and tried to sit up and immediately regretted it when his head went fuzzy.
Foggy saw Matt falter and he quickly caught him and eased him back against his pillow. "Do I need to call your mom?"
Matt shook his head no as he scrubbed his hands over his face. "No, I'm getting better."
Foggy got up and grabbed two bottles of water from their fridge and pressed one into Matt's hands to encourage him to drink. "Can you tell me what you do remember?"
Matt sipped at the bottle slowly. "I remember you leaving to go see Marci. Everything started to get loud and fuzzy. I tried to relax with music but I felt a migraine coming on so I tried to sleep it off before it got bad."
"Are we talking about the migraine where you puke or where everything is crazy in your head?"
"Crazy," Matt confirmed. "I got up to use the bathroom at some point in time but that was kind of robotic. I didn't realize how much time had passed so I didn't think to check if you were here. I just went back to bed."
"Has this happened before?"
Matt nodded as he took a bit more water. "Yes, but not for as long."
"When was that?" Foggy asked.
"A few months ago. You came over at the end of it."
Foggy thought about it for a moment. "Fourth of July?"
Matt nodded. "With all the damn fireworks that people were shooting off, I didn't sleep at night for nearly five days. I was taking naps during the day until the migraine hit. That was only fifteen hours. My mom would come in to check on me every few hours."
"I remember you were still sacked out in bed when I came over," Foggy recalled. "And with midterms just finishing, you have been clocking in with an average of three hours a night. Why didn't you call me?"
"If I called you, you would have canceled your date, which I know you were looking forward to, and Marci would hate me more than she already does. I have no idea why she does. I don't remember pissing her off."
"I don't know either," Foggy shrugged. "When was the last time you ate anything?"
Matt thought about it. "Friday lunch?"
"No wonder you're so loopy. How about I run to the dining hall and bring us back some dinner?"
"I'll wait here," Matt laughed, not like he could easily get out of bed at that moment anyway.
When Foggy got back from the dining hall he was quite surprised to see Marci waiting outside his door. "I didn't expect to see you again tonight."
"I called you. Didn't you get my message, Foggy-bear?" Marci replied.
Foggy shook his head. "I had my ringer turned down. What's up?"
"I thought we could continue where we left off," Marci purred. "You know...kick Murdock out and get the place to ourselves." Marci then noticed the bags in Foggy's hand. "What's that?"
"Dinner for Matt and me."
Marci rolled her eyes and sighed with disgust. "Couldn't he get it himself? I don't get how you put up with him. He always goes on about how he can do things himself and you are always there helping him out."
"Hold up a sec," Foggy interrupted. "I went to get us dinner because Matt isn't feeling well and he hasn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. He's been in bed since I left so I'm not kicking him out. I don't know what's eating you but that's my best friend that you were just ripping apart."
"And I'm your girlfriend."
"And I love you but you were just being quite awful to someone who is like a brother to me. I like him better than my brother at times. I help him to make his life a little easier and he would do the same for me."
"Saint Matthew? The arrogant asshole that acts like he knows it all in every class?"
Foggy pursed his lips together. "I'm going to try to pretend that you didn't just say that. It's pretty damn obvious that you don't know anything about Matt and you haven't even tried to get to know him. You're just pissed that he gets better grades. You don't get how hard he works to get those grades."
"So, you'd rather spend the rest of the night with your roommate instead of your girlfriend?" Marci challenged.
Foggy was screwed no matter how he answered here. He leaned in to give Marci a kiss but got the side of her mouth when she turned her head away. "I'll call you tomorrow to fix our interrupted plans."
"If that's how it's going to be. Good night then," Marci groaned as she walked off.
Matt hadn't wanted to overhear Foggy's conversation with Marci and he really tried to block it out but they were right outside the door. Some of the things Marci said really hurt but Foggy sticking up for him made him feel a bit better. All of it though didn't wash away the guilt that this fight was because of him and it made Matt miserable.
Then Matt heard Foggy unlocking the door.
"Hey buddy! I come back bearing warm soup and juice," Foggy said warmly despite what just happened. "Do you want to eat in bed or at your desk?"
"Desk, please," Matt said as he shifted to get out of bed. "I'm sorry."
Foggy paused for a moment when Matt apologized. "It's not your fault. She was looking to pick a fight when our plans got messed up."
"I still feel like this is partially my fault," Matt said as he sat down to eat.
"My plans got messed up because Marci's roommate came back early. She tried to make a go for round two here but I'm not going to just kick my best friend out like that. She just got pissed off at the wrong person. I'll make it up to her and she'll be all sunshine and roses again."
"Just make sure to open a window after," Matt said in between bites.
Foggy looked up in confusion for a moment and then it dawned on him with astounding clarity. "You can smell that?!"
Matt grimaced and nodded. "I really try not to but with the high amount going on it's impossible to ignore and not all of it is pleasant."
"Is that why you don't have a girl here yet or a string of them with the way they look at you?" Foggy asked.
Matt shook his head. "Just haven't found the right one. I'm looking for more than just getting laid," Matt said. "And I hope you don't tell Theo that you like me better than him. He's your brother."
Foggy laughed. "Nope. I tell him regularly that you are superior to him and he is failing to live up to the high standards you have set. It is my sworn duty as his brother to make his life miserable. We are even worse to Candace."
"Foggy, that's terrible."
"What do you normally do for Thanksgiving?" Foggy asked.
"My mom and I usually go to the Thanksgiving mass Wednesday night. After the parade, we go to the church to help with the community dinner. Once the community service is done, my mom and I just do something small. We don't even get a turkey since it's just the two of us. My mom will make a chicken instead."
"Have you ever had a big family Thanksgiving?" Foggy asked.
"I don't have a big family. Even when I was little, the biggest was just my dad and my grandmother," Matt reminded him.
"You guys totally have to join my family this year! My mom cooks for like thirty people already so two more won't be that much difference?"
Matt was about to open his mouth to protest but Foggy was already on the phone with his mom to confirm it was okay to include Matt and his mom for Thanksgiving. He smiled when he overheard Foggy's mom say that she had already assumed they were coming and included them in the head count.
Matt took out his phone and called his mom. "Hi Mom. How do you feel about a change of plans for Thanksgiving?"
"Are you sure Father Lantom wasn't upset with us for bailing on him this year?" Matt asked as he and his mom made the familiar walk to Foggy's house. Normally, Matt made this walk with ease on his own but all the extra sounds and smells from the holiday were messing with his concentration so he was grateful to have his mom with him.
"In fact, it was quite the opposite," Maggie said reassuringly as she placed her hand over Matt's on her arm. "He specifically told me for us to go and have fun and he didn't want to see us at all this weekend."
"I guess that means I can sleep in on Sunday," Matt laughed as his stomach growled audibly again.
"Matty, that's the third time I've heard your stomach growl in as many blocks. I watched you eat breakfast not two hours ago."
"I can't help it," Matt defended. "I'm smelling everything that everyone is cooking and it's making me hungry."
About a block out from Foggy's house, Matt stopped suddenly. He had picked up on the dull roar for a while but he wasn't sure it was Foggy's until they got closer.
"Matty, is something wrong?" Maggie asked as she watched Matt's head tilt in the direction of Foggy's house.
"I thought Foggy had been exaggerating when he said thirty people," Matt explained. "I think he underestimated and he's getting in trouble."
"Franklin and Theodore Nelson! I told you to come down a half an hour ago to help set up! Get down here!" Anna called from her kitchen as she was miraculously trying to monitor three dishes simultaneously while keeping people from snitching food.
Matt and Maggie slipped in the back door quietly and almost unnoticed by the influx of Nelson's. Matt was used to the general crazier nature of Foggy's house just because there were more people than his own. A holiday was a big difference.
"Matty! You came!" Foggy called out as he bounded into the kitchen and practically attacked Matt with a hug. "Come with me. You've got cousins to meet before we whip their asses when we team up for the games later."
Matt was struggling to get his coat off while Foggy tried to drag him off. "Don't you think we should stay to help your mom? I heard her call you."
"Nah. That's what's Theo's for. I've got a guest and we've got prep work to do," Foggy said again as he took Matt's hand and whisked him away while he was trying to get Foggy's attention. "Put your cane away. You don't need it here."
"Franklin! Get back here!" Anna called out again before catching sight of Maggie. "I am so sorry, Maggie. I didn't hear you come in. Please give Ed your coats. Can I get you anything?"
"I must apologize for Matthew. He knows better," Maggie said as she took off her coat and handed the container of cookies over.
Anna waved her off as she thanked her for the dessert. "Matt tried to get Foggy back. He's fine. He's always trying to help when he's here."
"Can I help with anything? I can't just sit back and watch you do everything," Maggie offered.
Anna handed her a knife to chop vegetables.
When it was time to eat, Matt was seated between Foggy and Maggie and neither one of them would let him raise a finger to make his plate. Matt actually had to say something to get them both to ease up a bit. It was embarrassing. Neither one even realized what they were doing and quietly apologized and only helped when Matt actually asked. Once they started eating, the questions about where Foggy's girlfriend was and Matt's lack of one started as well as some well-meaning aunts trying to set Matt up with some of Foggy's cousins. Matt politely declined and Foggy cringed on his behalf.
Later that evening, when most of the family had taken over the living room to watch football, Foggy found Matt sitting outside on the front stoop. "Football not your game?" Foggy asked as he sat down beside his friend.
"I like it well enough but it's a little hard to track with so many moving parts," Matt replied. "Now a boxing title fight is another story."
Foggy understood that as well that it was a hell of a lot quieter out here for his friend with sensitive ears. "Can I get you anything?"
"I would love some coffee and some more of those desserts."
Foggy patted Matt on the back as he stood up. "I'll go see what I can get my hands on."
Foggy returned a fee moments later with two cups of coffee and a plate of assorted cookies and slices of pie with two forks balanced on top. "I can't believe what I just walked into," Foggy said as he sat back down, setting the plate between them to share and handing Matt his coffee and a fork. "Our moms were in the kitchen together discussing their days as young brides. There were comparisons that I didn't need or want to hear. There are pictures that I will not get out of my head."
Matt snorted into his coffee as he tried not to laugh. He had heard most of what his and Foggy's mom were talking about for a while. Maggie had loosened up quite a bit since leaving the church to be Matt's mom full-time again but there were times that she kind of forgot she ever was one at all. Most of them involved Foggy's mom and something about his dad. Matt doesn't think he ever really wanted to know when or how quickly his dad scored with his mom but ended up hearing the story unintentionally from both parents. "Please don't tell me if there were current comparisons."
"Sorry buddy. I definitely heard a 'what if' in regards to your dad and if he was still around. Are you sure your mom was a nun? I didn't think they were allowed those type of thoughts."
"She definitely was a nun for thirteen years," Matt confirmed with a laugh. "But she was a boxer's wife too and they seriously have superpowers over hot headed boxers."
Foggy laughed. He'd been to the gym with Matt enough to see some of these women in action. It was a sight to behold. They could hold masters' classes on it. "So, how was your first big Thanksgiving?"
"A little bit crazy but a lot of fun."
"I want to apologize for my smothering earlier. The last thing I would ever want to do would be to embarrass you or imply you can't do something," Foggy said sincerely.
"Foggy, I forgive you for that. I know you were just trying to help me. It was probably easier that way."
"You were a beast when it came to the games. We are totally repeating come Christmas. I'm still trying to figure out how we managed ten dice on that popsicle stick. You were like a freaking statue."
Matt shrugged. "I treated it like a meditation. Focused, controlled breathing and getting into a zone can be very effective for stress relief. I've been doing it since I was a kid."
"Teach me your ways."